A rifle hunt can be just as demanding, and rewarding. We all have our preferences, but try it and see. You may find it is, or isn't as rewarding - for you.

I personally would not limit my options, with 8 points or better, just because I was gun hunting. A well placed shot on a doe, or even a small buck, can be the thrill of a lifetime for many. If you'd taken a dozen or more 1-1/2 yr old bucks in your hunting career, I'd be all for setting goals, I'm not trying to discourage you - we should be letting the young ones walk. Still, I think its important to "have fun" and harvest a deer that you will be happy with. If a rifle seems, "just too unsporting" to you - consider a blackpowder hunt, or even using a shotgun.

Definitely try hunting with other implements, if you do not like one, or all of them, you can always go back to bow only. When it comes to hunting, there is no higher or lower road to travel as far as I'm concerned. Do what you enjoy, If you've never experienced other methods of hunting, how could you possibly know?